Terminated Maruti workers detained in Sonipat while agitating for reinstatement

Around two dozen terminated Maruti workers were detained by the Haryana Police at Sonipat on Sunday while calling for reinstatement. The agitating workers were also seeking permanent jobs for the company’s former temporary workers at its Kharkhoda Plant, one of the biggest in the country.

Around two hundred Maruti workers terminated following violence at the company’s Manesar Plant in 2012 have been agitating for the past six months under the banner of Maruti Suzuki Struggle Committee seeking reinstatement. In January, these agitating workers brought together the former non-permanent workers of the company, forming the Maruti Suzuki Asthayi Mazdoor Sangh to fight for the company’s temporary workers.

Maruti Suzuki Struggle Committee member Khusiram, who was among those detained in Sonipat, accused the police of “oppression,” alleging that the workers were not allowed to hold a peaceful agitation, despite having informed the district administration in advance. “We submitted an application to the Sub-Divisional Magistrate Kharkhoda, seeking permission for the protest. But there was no reply. When we gathered at the scheduled venue, Parshuram Park, today (Sunday), the police detained some of us. The remaining workers then regrouped and started marching towards the SDM office to submit a memorandum of demands. But they too were detained,” said Mr. Khusiram.

Largest car plant

The Kharkhoda plant, which is set to be one of the biggest automobile manufacturing units in the world, only employs fixed-term workers and other non-permanent workers, said a press statement on behalf of agitating workers. It added that one key demand of the demonstration was that the company should hire 10,000 permanent workers and those who have worked in other Maruti plants should be given priority. Their other demands included “equal pay for equal work” and hiring of permanent workers for jobs which are permanent in nature.

Station House Officer, Kharkhoda Police Station, Inspector Bir Singh, said the agitating workers did not have permission to hold the agitation and were, therefore, detained for violation of prohibitory orders imposed to maintain law and order. Mr. Singh said those detained were let off in the evening. The police officer said the police had also received a complaint from the company two days ago expressing apprehensions that Sangh members could get violent.